Guevarra orders close monitoring of BuCor reforms

JUSTICE SECRETARY Menardo I. Guevarra has directed the department's interim oversight committee to “closely monitor” reforms being implemented at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Mr. Guevarra said while the Department of Justice (DoJ) only exercises “general administrative supervision and not control over the bureau,” the committee can still check if the reforms take into consideration the welfare of inmates in the New Bilibid Prison.

“I have directed the interim DoJ oversight committee to closely monitor reforms being initiated by the new BuCor leadership and ensure that such reforms are being implemented within the bounds of the law and with due consideration for the well-being of inmates in our penitentiaries,” he told reporters in a mobile-phone message.

Mr. Guevarra also said the supervision includes “calling attention to actions which are improper, unlawful, or way out of bounds” and “instituting disciplinary action whenever warranted.”

The DoJ last month formed an interim oversight committee for BuCor to exercise close administrative supervision pending the appointment of its new director-general after the dismissal of Nicanor E. Faeldon over the premature release of convicts of heinous crimes for good conduct time allowance (GCTA).

President Rodrigo R. Duterte appointed Gerald Q. Bantag, former Bureau of Jail and Management Penology Region 4 director, as BuCor's prison chief on Sept. 17.

Corruption allegations inside the maximum penitentiary such as selling of hospital passes and GCTA to inmates were reported during Senate hearings on the GCTA law.

Mr. Duterte has also ordered the “revamp” the BuCor due to the corruption allegations.

The National Capital Region Police Office said in a statement early this month that it deployed 551 cops to BuCor following the request of Mr. Bantag to replace personnel who will be under “retraining and evaluation.” —